Dispatch and reception station for pneumatic transmissions

ABSTRACT

A station for a pneumatic transmission has an enclosure with concentric half-tubes mounted therein forming an extension of the pneumatic transmission line. The half-tubes are rotated together in the same direction one through a quarter turn and the other through a three-quarters turn selectively to open upward to form a receiving opening; to open downward to form a discharge opening; and to form a closed extension of the transmission line.

United States Patent Carlier [45] Dec. 19, 1972 [72] Inventor: Claude Carlier, 24 rue de Romainville, Montreuil, France [22] Filed: Oct.5,197l

[211 App]. No.: 186,284

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 5, 1970 Sept. 14,1971

France ..70358l6 France .L ..7l33045 [52] US. Cl. .243/19, 243/24, 243/38 511 Int. Cl ..B65g5l/32" [58] Field of Search ..243/I,l9,16,24,38'

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS v l,l 12,304 9/1914 Loebenberg ..243/I9 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,250,364 9/1967 Germany i.243/I Primary ExaminerHarvey C. Hornsby Att0rneyWilliam B. Kerkam, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A station for a pneumatic transmission has an enclosure with concentric half-tubes mounted therein forming an extension of the pneumatic transmission line. The half-tubes are rotated together in the same direction one through a quarter turn and the other through a three-quarters turn selectively to open upward to form a receiving opening; to open downward to form a discharge opening; and to form a closed extension of the transmission line.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHEB I 9 I912 3.706.428

SHEET 1 [IF 2 u E In (ll 0 O 2 N w w 7 Tw I m I I l I 5'1 0/ I -J co m 9 on INVENTOR CLAUDE CARLI ER ATTORNEYS DISPATCH AND RECEPTION STATION FOR PNEUMATIC TRANSMISSIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION air-tight casing, tubular fittings aligned on opposite sides thereof and, in the interior of the casing, a mechanism to permit free passage of a dispatch cartridge through the station, to dispatch a cartridge in the tube by introducing it in the casing; or to receive a cartridge coming from the tube by removing it from the casing.

It is also well know that this interior mechanism can include an intermediate tube rotating to alignment with tight valves through which one introduces or removes a cartridge. The, mechanism may also include mobile shutters, deflector devices, systems of switches, fixed stops, cylinders and the like as well as various devices for automatically introducing into the station, or automatically extracting from the station, a cartridge in or from the corresponding line. All of these systems must be sufficiently precise so that the reception of the cartridges is carried out without difficulty, and so that the dispatch and receiving opening are air-tightwhen the station receives the interior pressure of the line.

All known systems have partially resolved these problems, but they utilize for this purpose, mechanisms comprising arms, levers, joints, and especially air-tight valves equipped with their adjustment devices and fitted connection; which makes a pneumatic station thus constructed, even if it complies with the requirements of its operation, of burdensome fabrication and costly to inspect and maintain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a pneumatic station' of novel concept which uses a minimum of mechanisms, involving only the use of a small classic motor of low cost to rotate the components.

In accordance with the invention, two concentric half-tubes occupy the interior of a case which constitutes the station, in relative positions which correspond to receiving, dispatch, or free passage of a cartridge. The exterior half-tube prohibits access at a given time to the loading and unloading apertures for the cartridges.

In accordance with a particular characteristic of the invention, a single driving motor makes the two concentric half-tubes rotate in such relation that the interior half-tube effects a threequarter turn in one direction while the exterior half-tube only rotates a quarter turn in the same direction in such a manner that the half-tubes together occupy three particular positions corresponding to the functions of the station, namely, free passage, dispatch or reception of a cartridge.

To facilitate the use of the station on a section of vertical line, the dispatch side of the device may consist of a dispatch channel containing a waiting cartridge and a safety cam which prevents the introduction of a second cartridge when the first cartridge is leaving the station. On the reception side, the device may include an exit guide bar associated with a flexible, impenetrable strip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA WINGS The advantages of the present invention are better seen from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof as shown with reference to the attached drawings in which FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view .of a station of the invention disposed in a horizontalposition;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line AA of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are schematic sections showing the relative positions of the half-tubes to carry out the several transfer functions; 7

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a station of the present invention placedvertically; and

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view on the line AA of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is seen that the pneumatic station of the present invention has an elongated case 1 with tubular fittings 2 and 3 in alignment on two opposite sides of the case. Above these tubular fittings and along the longitudinal direction of the case is a dispatch orifice 4 of a length determined as a function of the dimensions of the cartridge 5 and'whose lateral edges 6 (FIG. 1) maintain the cartridge in the position as shown. In the same manner but underneath the tubular fittings 2 and 3 is a receiving orifice 7 opposite dispatch orifice 4 and having lateral edges 8.

Two concentric half-tubes; an exterior tube 9 and an interior tube 10, rotate through predetermined angles about the axis BB. In the position represented in FIG. 1, the two concentric half-tubes 9 and 10 form within casing 1 a longitudinal cylindrical chamber extending the tubular fittings 2 and 3. The air-tightness between the two half-tubes is provided by flexible membrane 18 fixed on half-tube 10 and forced flat against the interior lining of exterior tube 9 by the air pressure in the longitudinal chamber.

Case 1 supports an electric motor 11 whichdrives in step-by step rotation the half-tubes 9 and 10 through chains 12 and 13. These chains engage toothed wheels fixed to an extremity of half-tubes 9 and 10 and are driven, one by pinion l4 and the other by pinion 15 on the shaft of motor 11. The ratio of the diameters of the pinions is chosen so that when the exterior half-tube has made a one-quarter turn, the interior half-tube has made a three-quarter turn. Air-tightness between tubes 9 and 10 and tubular fittings 2 and 3 is provided by well known ring-shaped joints 16. Case 1 which encloses these elements can be of simple conception.

A receiving basket 17 is provided under receiving orifice 7. I

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the operation of the station is for the dispatch of a cartridge is shown in F IG. 3. The half-tubes 9 and 10 are in a low position, that is to say they are arranged one in the other, with their concavities turned toward the top. A cartridge can then be introduced through the dispatch orifice 4. It will come to rest on the bottom of the interior halftube 10 and will be dispatched into the line when the two tubes 9 and 10 rotate to transfer position (FIG. 4).

For transfer of cartridge (FIGS. 1 and 4) tube 10 is rotated through three-quarter of a turn toward the right and tube 9 is rotated through a one-quarter turn in the same direction. The half-tubes 9 and 10 then form between them a tubular volume closed and air-tight owing to the flexible membrane 18. A cartridge can therefore pass freely through stationfrom one tubular orifice to the other.

, For reception of a cartridge (FIG.'5) the movement of the tubes are continued in the same direction, tube 9 rotates through a one-quarter turn and tube 10 through a'three-quarter turn. The two half-tubes are then in high position, that is to say, they are arranged one in the other, concavities turned toward the bottom. A cartridge coming from the receiving orifice 7 then falls into basket 17. During this operation, dispatch of a cartridge is prevented by half-tube 9.

From the transfer position (FIG. 4) which is the rest position of the station, one can pass to the receiving position (FIG. by effecting, as indicated above, the rotation of tubes 9 and 10 in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 5.

If, on the other hand one wishes to pass from the transfer position (FIG. 4) to the dispatch position (FIG. 3), motor 1 l is reversed and a one-quarter turn of tube 9 and a three-quarter turn of tube 10 is sufficient to reach the dispatch position, the tubes having turned in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3.

Likewise, in FIG. 5, the transfer position (FIG, 4) can be reached by rotation in the direction indicated by the arrows.

In the present invention themaneuvers for dispatch or receiving can be carried out automatically.

When the station is disposed in horizontal position, the operation is facilitated because a waiting cartridge can be placed on the surface of tube 9 in the dispatch orifice 4 and it is kept in place by the lateral edges of that opening. When the line is free and tube 9 is rotated for dispatch, the cartridge then' falls into the half-tube 10, and will be directed toward the addressee station which is disposed as shown in FIG. 5. However, in many cases it may be desirable to mount the'station in vertical position. To utilize gravity, particularly for placing a cartridge in waiting on exterior tube 9 in the dispatch opening 4, changes to the above-described embodiment are required and will now be described.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, it is seen that the station of the pneumatic post, in vertical position, has the same elongated case 1 with aligned tubular fittings 2 and 3, which form part of the section of vertical line of pneumatic transport.

The case encloses the two concentric half-tubes 9 and 10, driven in rotation by motor 11 in such manner that a rotation of a one-quarter turn of the exterior tube corresponds to a rotation of a three-quarter turn of the interior tube. According to their relative position, the

- tubes open to the exterior on one side or the other of case 1.

On the side of dispatch opening 4, case 1 includes a dispatch channel 19, on an inclined plane receiving the cartridge introduced into case 1 through orifice 20, and the cartridge falls under its own weight into the interior cavity of tubes 9 and 10. To avoid the untimely introduction of another cartridge when the first cartridge is being dispatched, a safety cam 21 connected to the exterior of tube 9 blocks orifice 20, as seen in FIG. 6,

when exterior tube 9 has its opening oriented toward the dispatch side. To this end cam 21 is fixed to tube-9 on its open side as seen in FIG. 7. I

. On the side of reception orifice 7, which is opposite dispatch orifice 4, a guide plate 22 restricts orifice 7 to form a passage practically equal to the diameter of a cartridge. A bent slide 23 forms a removal channel to facilitate sliding of the cartridge toward receiving basket 17. A flexible, impenetrable strip 24 normally closes the discharge opening.

The station as thus described essentially functions under double pressure for receiving a cartridge, the flow of air from tubes 2 and 3 and the air escaping from orifice 7.

The cartridge coming from the top or the bottom is therefore subjected at the station to the conjugate pressure of the two'tubes and its lateral ejection can be suffici ently violent to require guiding plate 22 and flexible strip 24 at orifice 7.

In accordance with another embodiment, the rotation of tubes 9 and 10 by motor 11 is advantageously by direct gearing, the motor having on its shaft two toothed gears of different diameters each of'which engages a toothed ring on one of tubes 9 and 10. The exact positioning-of the tubes in each of the positions of transfer, dispatch or receiving is therefore facilitated and accurate.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 adapts the pneumatic station for operation in vertical position; However, theoperation of the embodiments is identical in both cases. I a

What I claim is:

l. Pneumatic station serving as an intermediate station, a dispatch station or as a receiving station, comprising an enclosure, arrival and departure tubes in alignment with opposite sides of said enclosure, a

dispatch orifice and a receiving orifice for cartridges in said enclosure, two concentric half-tubes in said enclosure parallel to said orifices, each of said half-tubes having a longitudinal opening slightly longer than the cartridge and having a width approximately equal to the radius of said tubes, means for rotating said halftubes according to an angular ratio of a quarter turn of one of said half-tubes to a three quarters turn in the same direction of the other of said half-tubes whereby said half-tubes occupy with respect to each other relative positions for transfer of cartridges by blocking said dispatch and receiving orifices for dispatch of a cartridge and for receiving a cartridge by opening the corresponding'one of said orifices. I I

2. Pneumatic station as described in claim 1, the exterior one of said half-tubes having its opening oriented toward one of the lateral walls of said enclosure blocking said dispatch orifice and blocking said receiving orifice by extending past the lateral edges of said orifices, the interior one of said half-tubes having its opening oriented in the opposite direction, whereby said half-tubes form a closed tubular structure through which a cartridge freely passes the station.

3. Pneumatic station as described in claim 1, said two half-tubes rotating at the same time to occupy the same relative positions with their cavities turned toward said dispatch orifice, the exterior one of said half-tubes blocking said receiving orifice.

4. Pneumatic station as described'in claim 1, said two half-tubes being rotated at the same time to occupy the same relative positions with their concavities turned toward said receiving orifice, the exterior one of said half-tubes blocking said dispatch orifice.

5. Pneumatic station as described in claim 2, said enclosure and said dispatch and receiving orifices being in a horizontal position, the exterior one of said'half-tubes blocking said dispatch orifice supporting a cartridge in waiting in said dispatch orifice, said cartridge in waiting resting directly on the exterior one of said half-tubes said orifice to a passage substantially equal to the diameter-of the cartridge whereby abrupt ejection of the cartridges is prevented, a slide for-the cartridge at said receiving orifice and a flexible impenetrable strip closing said orifice between said plate and said slide.

8. Pneumatic station as described in claim 1, including a single electric motor simultaneously driving said and being held in position by the edges of said dispatch orifice.

6. Pneumatic station as described in claim 1, said enclosure and said orifices being in vertical position, in-

eluding adjacent said dispatch orifice a dispatch chanv nel directing a cartridge into said enclosure by its weight to enter said half-tubes anda safety cam secured to the exterior one of said half-tubes prohibiting introduction of a second cartridge when a first cartridge is being dispatched. v

7. Pneumatic station as described in claim 6, including a guiding plate at said receiving orifice restricting ing toothed rings on said half-tubes, toothed pinions on the shaft of the motor each engaging one of said rings, said pinions having diameters such that one of said halftubes rotates through three quarters of a turn when the other of said half-tubes rotates through a one quarter turn. 

1. Pneumatic station serving as an intermediate station, a dispatch station or as a receiving station, comprising an enclosure, arrival and departure tubes in alignment with opposite sides of said enclosure, a dispatch orifice and a receiving orifice for cartridges in said enclosure, two concentric halftubes in said enclosure parallel to said orifices, each of said half-tubes having a longitudinal opening slightly longer than the cartridge and having a width approximately equal to the radius of said tubes, means for rotating said half-tubes according to an angular ratio of a quarter turn of one of said half-tubes to a three quarters turn in the same direction of the other of said half-tubes whereby said half-tubes occupy with respect to each other relative positions for transfer of cartridges by blocking said dispatch and receiving orifices for dispatch of a cartridge and for receiving a cartridge by opening the corresponding one of said orifices.
 2. Pneumatic station as described in claim 1, the exterior one of said half-tubes having its opening oriented toward one of the lateral walls of said enclosure blocking said dispatch orifice and blocking said receiving orifice by extending past the lateral edges of said orifices, the interior one of said half-tubes having its opening oriented in the opposite direction, whereby said half-tubes form a closed tubular structure through which a cartridge freely passes the station.
 3. Pneumatic station as described in claim 1, said two half-tubes rotating at the same time to occupy the same relative positions with their cavities turned toward said dispatch orifice, the exterior one of said half-tubes blocking said receiving orifice.
 4. Pneumatic station as described in claim 1, said two half-tubes being rotated at the same time to occupy the same relative positions with their concavities turned toward said receiving orifice, the exterior one of said half-tubes blocking said dispatch orifice.
 5. Pneumatic station as described in claim 2, said enclosure and said dispatch and receiving orifices being in horizontal position, the exterior one of said half-tubes blocking said dispatch orifice supporting a cartridge in waiting in said dispatch orifice, said cartridge in waiting resting directly on the exterior one of said half-tubes and being held in position by the edges of said dispatch orifice.
 6. Pneumatic station as described in claim 1, said enclosure and said orifices being in vertical position, including adjacent said dispatch orifice a dispatch channel directing a cartridge into said enclosure by its weight to enter said half-tubes and a safety cam secured to the exterior one of said half-tubes prohibiting introduction of a second cartridge when a first cartridge is being dispatched.
 7. Pneumatic station as described in claim 6, including a guiding plate at said receiving orifice restricting said orifice to a passage substantially equal to the diameter of the cartridge whereby abrupt ejection of the cartridges is prevented, a slide for the cartridge at said receiving orifice and a flexible impenetrable strip closing said orifice between said plate and said slide.
 8. Pneumatic station as described in claim 1, including a single electric motor simultaneously driving said half-tubes in rotation step by step, two chains driven by said motor driving said half-tubes, two coaxial pinions on the motor shaft driving said chains the ratio of the diameters of said pinions being such that for the same period of rotation through three quarters of a complete turn aid the other of said half-tubes is rotated through a one quarter turn.
 9. Pneumatic station as described in claim 1, including toothed rings on said half-tubes, toothed pinions on the shaft of the motor each engaGing one of said rings, said pinions having diameters such that one of said half-tubes rotates through three quarters of a turn when the other of said half-tubes rotates through a one quarter turn. 